INORGANIC: Inorganic materials are either SCALES or STAINS.
- Scale: Cloudiness is caused when metallic salts, calcium & magnesium come out of solution. This happens when there is too much of it in the pool water. When these minerals form a hard deposit on the pool wall, it is called SCALE.
- Stains: Heavy metals such as iron, copper, and manganese come out of solution when there is an excess of these minerals in the pool water. They then precipitate in to deposits, which adhere to the pool wall causing discolorations and stains.

Where Does It Come From?

Your pool source water already contains oxides, hydroxides, carbonates, sulfates, silicates, and phosphates. Inferior pool chemicals also contain these substances. Corrosion of pool equipment as well as your regular pool algae treatment program can add to the level of substances. Unfortunately, most people are not aware of a metal problem until a stain appears in their pool.

Copper Stains come from improper water balance or the erosion of copper components such as the heating element in the pool heater.
Iron Stains are due to the erosion of galvanized pipe or steel components.
Cobalt Stains are from old paint that has found its way.
Lead Stains are form old paint that has found its way into the water from pipes or solder joints.
Manganese Stains are from well water.
Nitrate Stains are from fertilizers and are hard to remove.

How To Prevent Stains

1. Sound water balance.
2. Careful chemical and equipment maintenance.
3. Constant testing and attention to detail.
4. Know your source water.

What Can I Do

1. Visually inspect the water, the pool walls and the equipment and ask yourself:
    …What color is the water? Cloudy, clear, blue, green, brown, purple?
    …Are the walls smooth, rough, pitted, or discolored?
    …Are the equipment and fittings corroded, thin, eroded, black, green, or white?
2. Bring a sample of your pool water and your source water for testing at either of our two locations.
3. We will test and analyze the pool and ascertain accurate readings of the sanitizer, conditioner, pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, TDS, iron and copper. We will also test and analyze the source water to see if metals were introduced during the pool fill process.
4. After the test results, our lab technician will advise you on your options.